Going Down the Highway, Going Sixty-Four...

...someone laid a big one, and blew me out the door!  I just couldn't resist; between the pug farts and Frenchie farts our house is just one big stinkbomb.  And now I am off on a tangent because my fit dog Friday post has absolutely, positively nothing to do with farts.  At all.  This week's fitness post actually focuses on bike riding - a great (and fun) way to burn some calories!

Oh boy was I happy to be on my bike!  The wind in my hair ears and the sun shining - it was the perfect way to spend such a beautiful afternoon.

And then my annoying human made me put my helmet on.  Safety first, I suppose.  I was a little upset - SQUIRREL!

I swear, if it wasn't for those pesky squirrels I really would have been able to focus and get fit on my bike.  OK, who am I kidding, my little pig legs don't even reach the pedals.  Giving my death stare to the squirrels as we passed by had to burn some calories, right?

All together now:  Going down the Highway, Going Sixty-Four, Someone laid a Big One, and Blew me out the door!

#DisneySide Wordless Wednesday: Parades

I really miss the Pixar Pals parade.  To infinity and beyond!

Wordless Wednesday

I'm working on my camouflage.

Mischief Monday: The Pug Crashed My Photo Shoot

It's Monday again, and you know what that means:  time to detail my mischief!  OK, well, today I am not detailing my mischief - it's the pug who is in the dog house this time!

As usual, I was minding my own business, not bothering anyone.  In fact, I was really excited because I was working on my Dumbo photo shoot.  I posted the finished project for a Wordless Wednesday a few weeks back, but in case you missed it, here it is:

Adorable, right?  Well, here's some behind the scenes footage on what went down BEFORE I captured that perfect photo.  (You might want to turn down your speakers - unless you like R.Kelly.  Don't judge - I had to get into the mood for  my photo shoot....)

OK, so, what do you think?  Is this the worst case of pug mischief that you have ever seen? 

Black and White Sunday: Happy Mother's Day!

Just me and my mom....

Sepia Saturday: Relaxation

I hope that your Saturday is as relaxing as mine!

Sepia Saturday

Hosted by Ruckus the Eskie & Earl's World

#PuppyMillActionWeek: I Am A Product of Hope

With Mother's Day only a day away, it is appropriate that we recognize those mothers that cannot speak for themselves.  Those mothers that are enslaved to procreate in horrible conditions.  Those mothers that are seen as property rather than as a living being.  I am choosing to speak up for those mothers that are trapped in puppy mills around the world.  Puppy Mill Action Week is a week dedicated to ending the abuse and suffering associated with puppy mills, and when I received an offer to help spread the word, I could not pass up the opportunity.

A Little History About Puppy Mill Action Week

Puppy Mill Action Week is a week-long event spearheaded by the Humane Society International ("HSI"); however, the effort to end the puppy mill industry stretches far beyond this week.  That is where the Puppy Mill Project comes in.  The Puppy Mill Project ("TPMP") is an organization that is dedicated to educating the public about how to end "puppy mill cruelty".

My Family's Experience With Puppy Mills

Everyone makes mistakes, and my humans are no exception (believe me, they make a lot of mistakes).  When they were young, and naive, they purchased my sister Emma, the Boston Terrier.  Emma was (and quite frankly still is) the love of their lives; but, unbeknownst to my humans, Emma was a product of a puppy mill.   My humans found this out many years after they purchased their sweet baby - a headline in the news indicated that the business that they purchased her from was shut down due to the sale of sick dogs originating from sickening puppy mills.  My humans were heartbroken.  While they felt glad that they had spared Emma from a life of imprisonment and abuse (she was already eight months old when they got her - she would have certainly been sent back to the mill if she was not sold), they felt terrible that they had supported such an awful trade.  Unfortunately, their heartbreak did not end there.

About a year ago, at the age of nine, Emma became suddenly and extremely ill.  After ultrasounds on her heart and countless blood tests and dollars spent, Emma was diagnosed with a form of anemia.  Despite several blood transfusions, the anemia ultimately claimed Emma's life a few short weeks later.  It is believed that this illness was a result of her puppy mill roots.  Needless to say, my humans were devastated.

There Is Hope

Despite the devastation of losing Emma, and even though there are still so many dogs suffering at the hands of abusive and cruel puppy mills, there is hope.  I say this, because I am a product of hope.

After learning from their experience with Emma, my humans refused to support the puppy mill trade ever again.  My humans did their research and purchased me, and my sister Lilo, from Honey Pets, a local store that only sells requested puppies acquired from local, responsible breeders.  In fact, Honey Pets supplied my humans with my entire history - including my parents' names and the name of my local breeder.  (Sidenote:  my mother's name is Daisy, too!)  Pet stores like Honey Pets are acknowledging that puppy mills are unacceptable and inhumane, and they are doing their part to end the practice by reducing the demand for puppy mill animals. 

Honey Pets is dedicated to the affectionate and responsible care and acquisition of their puppies, and I am a firm supporter of local businesses - especially those who do the right thing.  Honey Pets is a wonderful business that understands the importance of responsible breeding and the compassionate adoption of an animal.  If we, as consumers, can demand that more local businesses provide responsibly bred animals; or, alternatively, offer an adoption program in lieu of puppies obtained from mills, we can shut down puppy mills once and for all.  It IS possible for a pet store to get it right.

Do Your Research

Learn from my humans' mistake and do your research first.  By doing your research you can spare yourself the heartache associated with a sick pet, and help to shut down puppy mills by reducing the demand.  Here are some great places to start your research journey:

• Check out the Puppy Mill Project on Facebook
• Find a Puppy Friendly Pet Store
• Find a local breeder, and interview the breeder to make sure that she/he only sells their animals to responsible people or businesses
• Interview your local store - don't be afraid to ask for proof of where the puppy originated

By working together, and doing our research, we can make a difference.  Let's rally together to speak for the mothers who can't speak for themselves this Mother's Day.  Let's End Puppy Mills Forever.

#DisneySide Wordless Wednesday: May Calendar Shot

May the 4th Force be with You.

Wordless Wednesday: Cinco de Mayo

The pug had a little too much fun celebrating Cinco de Mayo yesterday.

Tasty Tuesday: Chicken "Meatloaf"

 This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a small commission to buy some treats if you purchase an item through one of the links on this post, but I only share products and information that I believe are relevant to my readers.

Mmmmm, Tuesday, the tastiest day of the week!  I usually love to get into the kitchen and cook up something delicious, but I was just too exhausted this week.

So, when in doubt, I force the pug to do my work for me.  She decided to use Good Food Cookbook for Dogs for inspiration; that is the book that I told you about in my last Tasty Tuesday post.  It took her awhile to pick which recipe she wanted to try.  She moves so slow sometimes.  Ugh, if I hadn't been so exhausted I would have gotten up and done it myself!

FINALLY, what seemed like two days later, the pug picked something. 

She chose to use the "Mice on Rice" recipe for inspiration.

First, she had to grind up some chicken breast.  [sidenote:  the pug is a bit of a food snob - everything from scratch!]

Then she chopped up some carrots...

And some oats and an egg...

Thankfully, I woke up just in time to help clean up the oats that she spilled all over the floor.

 

While I was busy eating oats off of the floor, Lilo the pug mixed all of the ingredients together.

Next, the recipe called for the mixture to be shaped into a loaf.  Since neither Lilo nor I have thumbs, we asked our ape-like human for some help.  Lilo made sure to stay close by for quality control purposes.  

After the "meatloaf" was baked and cooled, Lilo cut it into small pieces and served it over some dry dog food (instead of rice).  

Then it was time to DIG IN.  It was delicious!  I think I will have to force the pug to cook for me more often!

Here's the recipe that we used for inspiration (from The Good Food Cookbook for Dogs, written by Donna Twichell Roberts (ISBN: 1-59253-067-2)

Mice on Rice

 Ingredients

* 1 lb of ground turkey or chicken

* 1 cup of old-fashioned oatmeal

* 1 1/2 cups of grated carrot

* 1 egg

* Cooked Rice

Instructions

1.  Place chicken, oatmeal, carrot, and egg in a large bowl and mix thoroughly to combine.

2.  Place meat mixture on a foil-lined baking sheet and pat into a 1/2 inch thick rectangle.  Bake in a preheated 375 degree oven for 30 minutes.

3.  Remove from oven and let loaf rest for at least 15 minutes.  Using a mouse-shaped cookie cutter, cut loaf into mice.

4.  To serve, sprinkle cooked rice over dry dog food and place one or more mice on top of the rice.  Makes approximately 12 mice, plus scraps.

To purchase your own copy of Good Food Cookbook for Dogs , click here:

And, since this product is eligible for Amazon Prime, you can have this item in your hands super fast!  Not an Amazon Prime member?  Try it for free for 30 days by clicking here !

Mischief Monday: Getting Serious About Greyhound Racing

Good morning, friends, and #MayThe4thBeWithYou!

On Mondays, I normally write about the mischief that my pug sister and I cause for our unassuming humans; but, today I am going to turn the tables.  For today's Mischief Monday post, I want to get a little serious and bring attention to some humans that are causing some mischief for greyhounds.  

Under Florida law, a facility may only host gambling if it also hosts racing.  This means that a facility may not offer slot machines, or other lucrative gambling options, unless it races animals.  Obviously, these facilities are inclined to race animals in order to gain permission to offer other forms of gambling.  I was first informed about this atrocity by the ASCPA, and as a Floridian, I am disgusted.  I am disgusted that humans are, once again, putting money and profit before the lives of fellow living creatures.  

Unfortunately, the Florida house adjourned without voting on whether to decouple this law.  Decoupling would essentially remove the racing requirement and significantly reduce the number of animals forced to endure the harsh life of racing.  

The lack of a vote on the decoupling measure is disappointing; however, there is progress being made.  Effective in July, Florida will join the majority and require the reporting of greyhound injuries.  While this is a step in the right direction, it is not enough.  The reporting of injuries is too little too late for many animals.  The racing and abuse must stop altogether.

All animals deserve respect and kindness.  It saddens me that humans are robbing these innocent animals of a full, and happy life.  I will certainly keep you updated with how you can help defeat these antiquated and abusive Florida laws.  

Black and White Sunday

Avengers assemble!

Sepia Saturday

Have a great weekend, friends!

Fit Dog Friday: The Battle for the Bone

Ahhhh, Friday.  The end of a long week, and time to sit down and write about my fitness activities.  Well, after my swimming debacle, I realized that I had no fitness activities to report.  I mean, most of my day consists of this:

And since I swore I would never do this again

We had a problem, Houston.  But, when life hands you lemons, trade them in for bacon.  I thought long and hard, and seized an opportunity when my pug sister, Lilo, decided to play with our old, decrepit, rubber bone.  It was time to get fit, friends.

Now, my pug might be a thug, but I am still twice her size.  So I did a ninja run-by and snatched that bone right out of her paws.  And then the chase was on.

I used my bulldog-rump to knock Lilo the pug right off the couch.  One down.  One to go.  It was time to tackle Mimi, the grumpiest Shih-Tzu on the planet.  I would really need to channel my ninja strength and focus to win this battle.  Just kidding, I was already getting winded but was having too much fun taunting my sisters.

Mimi and I ended up in an epic tug-of-war - which, I might add was totally unfair.  I stink at tug-of-war.  My jowls always end up getting in my way.  Which is why I let Mimi win Mimi ended up with the nasty, rust-bucket bone.  Here is what I saw when I went to steal the bone back:

In case you missed it, here is another shot of Mimi, the grumpiest Shih-Tzu on the planet, guarding her rickety bone:

OK, let's be fair - here's the rest of the picture.

I surrendered.  That was too much workout for me.  Time for a nap.  And some bacon.  Hope you all had more fitness success this week than me!